Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers

Walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers (walk-ins or WICFs) are enclosed storage spaces that can be walked into. WICFs temporarily store refrigerated or frozen food or other perishable goods and are used primarily in the food service and food sales industry. Walk-in coolers operate above 32°F and at or below 55°F, and walk-in freezers operate at or below 32°F. WICFs covered by the regulations have a total chilled storage area of less than 3,000 square feet, and do not include products designed and marketed exclusively for medical, scientific, or research purposes.

The standards with a compliance date of January 1, 2009 will save approximately 1.6 quads of energy and result in approximately $16 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2009-2033. The standard will avoid about 85.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 16.8 million automobiles.

The standards with a compliance date of June 5, 2017 will save approximately 3.1 quads of energy and result in approximately $37 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2017-2046. The standards will avoid about 159 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 30 million automobiles.

DOE has published a technical amendment regarding energy conservation standards for certain refrigeration systems for walk-in coolers and freezers. 80 FR 69837 (November 12, 2015). In this notice DOE is amending the CFR to reflect the court's order vacating the six standards found in DOE's regulations pertaining to certain refrigeration systems used in walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer application. For more information please see the rulemaking page.

Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers

The following content summarizes the energy conservation standards for WICFs. The text is not an official reproduction of the Code of Federal Regulations and should not be used for legal research or citation.

Current Standard

Walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), on or after January 1, 2009 must be assembled from components that meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 431.306. This information is also available in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.

Amended Standard

Walk-in coolers and walk-in freezer panels, doors, and refrigeration systems manufactured on or after three years after the date of publication in the Federal Register shall comply with the following standards:

Table 1. Standards for Doors Effective August 4, 2014

Equipment Category

Internal Rating Temp. (°F)

External Rating Temp. (°F)

Operating Temp. (°F)

Equipment Class Designation*

Maximum Daily Energy Consumption (kWh/day)**

Display Door

35 (M)

75

32

DD.M

0.04 × Add + 0.41

-10 (L)

75

32

DD.L

0.15 × Add + 0.29

Passage Door

35 (M)

75

32

PD.M

0.05 × And + 1.7

-10 (L)

75

32

PD.L

0.14 × And + 4.8

Freight Door

35 (M)

75

32

FD.M

0.04 × And + 1.9

-10 (L)

75

32

FD.L

0.12 × And + 5.6

*The meaning of the letters in this column is indicated in the columns to the left.

**Add represents the surface area of the display door; And represents the surface area of the non-display door.

Table 2. Standards for Refrigeration Systems Effective August 4, 2014

Condensing Type

Internal Rating Temp. (°F)

Operating Temp. (°F)

Condensing Location

Capacity Range (Btu/h)

Equipment Class Designation*

Minimum AWEF (Btu/W-h)**

Dedicated Condensing

35 (M)

32

Indoor (I)

<9,000

DC.M.I, < 9,000

5.61

>9,000

DC.M.I, = 9,000

5.61

Outdoor (O)

<9,000

DC.M.O, < 9,000

7.60

>9,000

DC.M.O, = 9,000

7.60

-10 (L)

32

Indoor (I)

<9,000

DC.L.I, < 9,000

5.93 × 10-5 × Q + 2.33

>9,000

DC.L.I, = 9,000

3.10

Outdoor (O)

<9,000

DC.L.O, < 9,000

2.30 × 10-4 × Q + 2.73

>9,000

DC.L.O, = 9,000

4.79

Multiplex Condensing

35 (M)

32

N/A

N/A

MC.M

10.89

-10 (L)

32

N/A

N/A

MC.L

6.57

*The meaning of the letters in this column is indicated in the columns to the left.

**Q represents the system gross capacity as calculated by the test procedure.

After a regulatory action has been completed, Executive Order 12866 requires agencies to identify the substantive changes between the draft submitted to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review and the action subsequently announced, and to identify those changes made at the suggestion or recommendation of OIRA.

The May 2014 final rule revised and expanded DOE’s existing regulations governing the use of alternative efficiency determination methods (AEDMs) for covered WICF products as alternatives to testing for the purpose of certifying compliance. The final rule also amended the test procedures published in April 2011.

Exceptions

State Exemptions to Federal Preemption

DOE has not exempted any states from these energy conservation standards. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR 431 subpart W.

The current energy conservation standards for commercial refrigeration equipment are mandated by Part A–1, the "Certain Industrial Equipment" of Title III of EPCA, as amended. (42 U.S.C. 6311–6317 ). This equipment is treated as covered equipment under Part A-1. (42 U.S.C. 6311(G))

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 2007 (EPCA), as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, prescribed energy conservation standards and test procedures for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers, which became effective on January 1, 2009.

EPCA directed DOE to publish test procedures to measure the energy use of walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers. DOE conducted a rulemaking and published the test procedures on April 15, 2011, with a correction notice published on June 9, 2011.

EPCA also directed DOE to publish performance-based energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers. DOE conducted a rulemaking and issued the energy conservation standards on May 9, 2014.

Helpful Links and Contact Information

Helpful Links

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